AT THE RIGHT TIME

What better psalm than this for Christmas Day! We note the time-point around which the O-T. swings into the N.T. Luther called this psalm a “Pauline psalm”, and he, Paul, knew both the rigours of O.T. law and the redemption of N.T. grace. The psalm seems to be divided at verse 6. In part one, vv. 1-5, there is a sense of fear, but in part 2 there is a looking for the arrival of the divine Promiser, v. 7. True to the O.T., in verses 1-5 we have:

1. The cry of one who knows the deep darkness of guilt from which he cries with intensity, vv. 1, 2.
2. The consciousness of a holiness before which sinners are doomed, v. 3.
3. The confession of a forgiveness still associated with fear, v. 4.
4. The conviction of soul which waits hopefully for a fulfilled promise, v. 5. Then what a change of prospect appears in part 2.

Here in verses 6-8, no longer is there a patient waiting for a promise to be fulfilled, but an eager looking for a person, the arrival of the Lord of promise, v. 6. The night is ending, the dawn is breaking, and watchers (not particularly the official watchmen on the city wall, but those wearied by the long night) are ready to hail the sunrise. We remember how the N.T. opens, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?”, Matt. 2. 2. Why this eager watching? With the coming One, there comes mercy in verses 7, 8 to meet the need in verse 3, and plenteous redemption to meet the demands of verse 4. This redemption from all iniquities, however, still leads to the fear of a reverential kind though not to one of abject terror.

Throughout the psalm, the writer’s cry alternates between a call to God as Jehovah and to God as Sovereign Master (Adonai). He therefore appeals to One (Jehovah the faithful One) whom he knows will and who can, for He has authority and power. See vv. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, but in verse 7 Jehovah fills the verse—the great covenant Keeper. How both of these great characters are vested in the Christ of the incarnation—He is Jesus, Jehovah the Saviour, and He is Lord.

No wonder we can use the greeting, “A Happy Christmas”.